The effects of a reciprocating extrusion process on the friction and wear behaviors of AA 6061/SiC composites

The friction and wear behaviors of reciprocatingly extruded AA 6061-SiC composites form the focal point of this study. To find the optimum way for refining the grains of the matrix, reciprocating extrusion (RE), as a deformation processes, is conducted and found to be feasible. Accordingly, RE has been applied on SiC particles reinforced AA 6061 matrix composite. Using the RE passes as a base, wear behaviors of the composites have been investigated at ambient temperature under dry and lubricated forms. Optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to reveal the effect of the RE passes on the microstructure of the materials. As a result, it is found that there is a clear relationship between the weight loss, wear resistance and hardness of the samples. As the load and the number of passes increase, the weight loss in the samples increases. The worn surfaces of the reinforced composites have commonly adhesive and abrasive type of wear.